The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas

You’ve probably heard of The Hero’s Journey as a plotting tool, but have you considered it as a tool for coming up with story ideas? In this article, The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, you’ll find over 75 creative writing prompts to get your Hero’s Journey inspired story going.

But first, let’s review what The Hero’s Journey is and its origin.

Where to start with The Hero’s Journey

If you haven’t studied The Hero’s Journey before, I highly recommend starting with The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler (click here for the book review at the How to Write Shop). Vogler breaks story into a “mythic journey” based on the study of storyteller Joseph Campbell. The theory is that all stories have an underlying mythic structure (known as The Hero’s Journey) and Vogler explains the following steps at length in his book. Put your story up against this structure to dig into your story’s subliminal structure.

Better yet, use The Hero’s Journey structure as a writing tool and brainstorm the big moments of your story. Do these writing exercises before or during your novel or short story writing process to jump-start ideas. Several of the steps (6 through 9) can be repeated as often as needed. You can brainstorm each step many times and choose what is best, or let information and ideas come that you can utilize in another place in your story.

1. The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Ordinary World:

Introduction to the hero. Life is normal, but something happens that signifies things are about to change. (The Ordinary World can be physical, but also a state of mind.)

• What do you want the reader’s first impression to be about your protagonist?
• What can happen to show this?
• How does the reader first meet your protagonist?
• What, where and when is your lead’s Ordinary World?
• What is good about it? Why is he or she comfortable here?
• What will the lead miss most when he or she leaves?
• What happens that feels a little off?
• Does your character notice this? How does he or she react?

2. The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Call to Adventure:

Something shakes up the Ordinary World, either external or something from within the hero. Your hero is forced to face the beginnings of change. Otherwise known as the inciting incident.

• What happens that changes everything?
• How does the hero feel about this?
• How does he or she react?
• What action does the main character take in response to what happened?
• What is now the main character’s goal?

3. The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Refusal of the Call:

The hero feels fear of the unknown. Another character may express uncertainty. The antagonist might enter here to keep the protagonist from entering the fray.

• What internal dilemma does your protagonist face in response to his goal?
• What does the antagonist do to make things worse for your protagonist?
• How does the protagonist react to this?
• Why? What is his or her fear?
• What will the hero lose (what is at stake?) if he or she doesn’t follow through?

4. The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Meeting with the Mentor:

The protagonist finds someone who gives him training or advice that will help him face the unknown. (Another character can take on the mentor role briefly during the story.) Or internally, the hero reaches within to find a source of courage and wisdom.

• Who in this new world can help the protagonist?
• How does the protagonist find him or her?
• Does the protagonist trust this character?
• What is the conflict between the mentor and the protagonist?
• Does this mentor accompany the lead, or send him or her on?

5. The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Crossing the Threshold:

The hero commits to the story and the challenge.

• What step does the lead take that he or she can’t take back?
• Why does he or she choose this? What does this step mean to him or her?
• What does his or her decision mean to the story? To others in the story?
• What does the antagonist do in response?

6. The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Tests, Allies, Enemies:

The hero encounters challenges and tests, is fully committed and has no choice but to move forward and keep fighting.

• Does your protagonist succeed? How?
• How does the antagonist react to this?
• Does your protagonist fail? How?
• How does the antagonist react to this?
• How is the situation made worse?
• What character revelation takes place for both?
• What risks does the protagonist take?
• Who does the main character meet to help him or her in the journey? How do they help?
• How does the antagonist react to this?
• Who does the lead meet who blocks him or her in the journey? What trouble do they cause?
• How does the antagonist react to this?

(Repeat the above, complete and in pieces, as often as needed.)

7. The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Approach to the Inmost Cave:

The hero is on the edge of danger and prepares for the major challenge. (Keep up the conflict!)

• What does the lead need to face?
• What decisions does he or she have to make?
• What action does he or she take?
• What does the antagonist do in response to this?
• What is at risk for the protagonist?

(Repeat the above as often as needed.)

8. The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Ordeal:

The hero confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new life. (Death: Physical, psychological, or professional.)

• What is impossible for the hero?
• How does he or she confront it?
• What risks does the protagonist take?
• What happens as a result?
• What is revealed about his or her character?
• How does the antagonist respond to this?

(Repeat the above as often as needed.)

9.  The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Reward (Seizing the Sword):

The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing death. But it’s not over yet. Things might look brighter but they will get worse.

• What is settled?
• What has the protagonist learned? How does it change him or her?
• What decision does he or she now make?
• What action does he or she take?
• What is revealed about his or her character?
• How does the antagonist respond to this?

(Repeat the above as often as needed.)

10.  The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Road Back:

The hero is driven to complete the adventure and loses what is most important. Death does happen here…psychological, physical, or professional.

• What risk did the protagonist take in the story that comes back with consequences?
• What is the worst thing that can happen?
• How does it happen?
• When does the protagonist realize all is lost? What happens?
• What image/scene will the reader to experience (complete with all the pain)?
• How does the antagonist respond to this?

11.  The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Resurrection:

The hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of his home. The protagonist is changed forever and commits to a new plan. The meaning of the journey is clear.

• What decision does the protagonist make when he or she realizes the reality of the situation?
• What action does the protagonist now take?
• How does the antagonist respond to this?

12. The Hero’s Journey Story Ideas, Return with the Elixir:

The hero returns home, transformed. Satisfying, surprising-but-inevitable ending.

• What has the hero accomplished? How is he or she transformed?
• What is the final scene in the story?
• What is surprising?
• What is inevitable?
• What do I want the reader to remember?

Want more information on The Hero’s Journey? Also check out Plotting with The Hero’s Journey.

Looking for more story ideas? What about some inspiration from Shapeshifters Real and Metaphorical?

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Award-winning novelist Kathy Steffen teaches fiction writing and speaks at writing programs across the country. Additionally, Kathy is also published in short fiction and pens a monthly writing column, Between the Lines. Her books, FIRST THERE IS A RIVER, JASPER MOUNTAIN and THEATER OF ILLUSION are available online and at bookstores everywhere.